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XP Questions, I need help please!

I will adjust and award points based on amount of help for each who contributes to the solutions.

A relative has XP Home, am trying to transfer files from an old Win95 puter via an External Iomega Zip 100 Parallel drive, (files are on 2 Zip 100 media disks as Backup Job #1 & #2). He had activated XP long ago, then added his a printer after purchase & activation, then much later an older Scanport 300 scanner, then a digital camera on a USB port (3 hdwre. changes from orig. hdwre config.?) Hehad the wrong drivers for the scanner in, leading to 2 separate (!) points in the device manager. Also file system was @ FAT32, I converted the drive to NTFS. But the following was happening before the conversion also.

I downloaded the correct XPdrivers called for which changed the scanner to be recognized by XP as a Microtek scanner (I think they wrote the XP driver). The scanner & printer now work fine & there are no hdwre. issues there. (I think this would be noticed by XP as a 4th Hdwre. change from activated config.) Also cleaned up the registry & Start up folder. (WinDr. found & fixed 82 errors, most being invalid reg. entries & Active-X files). DiskDr. say?s disk is fine & NTFS.

When I attempted to install the Iomega software, shut down & hooked up the External Zip 100 Parallel via the printer port (w/ or without the printer & scanner attached), and restart, I get a situation of a normal request to boot to XP Home, then it attempts to boot into windows normally, then a screen flash (too fast to read any of the writing) of a blue screen, then it goes into a restart loop (repeat?s), that won't allow booting into windows. Restore to previous config. brings me out of the event (and allows windows to boot normally), if I shutt down & disconnect the external drive and hook the scanner & printer back up w/out the ZIP drive. (Cont.)

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XP Questions, I need help please!

My questions. (1.) Has a reactivation event been triggered due to Hdwre. Config. changes, and is this what I'm witnessing? If so, how can I solve it?(Steps to take?) Anyone else dealt w/ this particular problem before?

(2.) Ctrl+Alt+Delete does not bring up the Task Manager, nor does Clicking on Launch Task Manager. Is there a trick that I am not aware of to launch the task mgr. or turn on the command Ctrl+Alt+Delete to launch it?

This particular machine recently had the W32Klez virus & it's buddy, but was cleaned w/ Symantec's removal tool and seems to work fine after the cleaning except for these 2 items. Most of the affected files (337) were temp or temp inet files, some removed, some repaired. Checked clean on a re-run of the tool & an updated full AV run.

XP Questions, I need help please!

I Also downloaded and installed the latest Via chipset 4 in 1 driver pkg. for the Mobo, which helped clear up the other hdwre. (!) point. (Simple SCSI miniport drivers) Replaced w/ SCSI/RAID interface under the SCSI Controllers in Device Manager...But since the boot isn't successful w/ the External ZIP attached, I have yet to see the Iomega Parallel port Zip Interface installed under the same heading (SCSI Controllers).

XP Questions, I need help please!

I don't have XP Home, but XP Pro, but I think you may find following info usefull.

1. ActivationYou don't have to be afraid of this process. You may activate as many times as you wish and process is free. They may ask you for a proof of purchase after you call in several times, but a simple fax with your invoice is usualy all you need.

2. I don't think you have problem because of activation, but because od hardware (IO Mega on parallel port), so you should try to fault find in that direction. To disable reboot after blue screen, you should:Open System Properties, click Advanced tab, click Settings in "Startup and Recovery". In "Startup and Recovery" window, uncheck "Automatically restart" checkbox. You may also adjust quantity of debugging information (I have "Small memory dump"). This arrangement will allow you to read the blue screen. You may then use this information to search Google and/or support.microsoft.com.

3. You may also open Task Manager with a key combination Ctrl+Shift+Esc

4. You may consider other transfer methods for transfering data like writing a CD, 2 network cards + crossover cable (my favorite), parallel cable or null modem serial cable (my least favorite, but simplest). You may also use XP features like "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" and User State Migration Tool (USMT) which is available on XP Pro CD (I don't know if it's available on XP Home CD) You may wish to search Microsoft XP Expert zone to find usefull downloads and tips.

XP Questions, I need help please!

I don't know this for sure, however I wouldn't think a hardware change of external hardware would trigger activation. It would only make since for that to be dealing with Internal hardware... video, sound, motherboard, processor, things of that sort. External hardware is just changed so frequently... I would think it could tell the difference. Am I totally wrong here?

XP Questions, I need help please!

Something else to check, the zip drive requires the parallel port to be set specifically to something bpp?or someother so find that out first for the setting from the win95 machine. Another option would be to just install the hard drive from the win95 machine? Or network the two and pass the files that way? I don't have xp yet but do have the zip drive, if you can't find the setting for the parallel port in bios leave a note and I'll check my settings at home.Good luck.

XP Questions, I need help please!

Now that you've mentioned your pass thrus, stop that! I thought you could only chain 2 devices through the parallel port!!!! Only connect up the zip drive when you need it or add another parallel port! And as for scanners, usb scanners are so much faster, upgrade and enjoy it. They're relatively cheap as well $29 buys faster and better than the old parallel ones. I've had both and would never go back, gave the old one away with a printer card. Don't think they're using it anymore either.But mostly why connect up the zip drive other than when needed, it tends to slow the system down as well. Other articles are out here referring to how video's get choppy and games slow down while they're connected.

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